Waterfront wilderness to return to East River pier
Although construction is already underway, a groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday morning for the Lower East Side waterfront revitalization project. Currently budgeted at $150 million, the project includes turning Pier 35, at South St. near Clinton St., into an “eco pier,” as envisioned in the computer rendering above; Pier 35 would be planted with local flora native to the region around the East River. The larger project, which extends from East River Park to the Battery, will include several glass-enclosed pavilion spaces beneath the F.D.R Drive and, farther Downtown, a dog run and get-downs, allowing people to get closer to the water and even launch small watercraft.